Facebook acquires Parse, an app-support company, for $85 million

Facebook, citing efforts to make it easier for app developers to integrate their services with the social network, said it is acquiring Parse, an app-support software company.

Facebook did not disclose how much it paid for Parse, but a report by the Wall Street Journal says the Menlo Park, Calif., company paid $85 million. Facebook said it was not disclosing the terms of the deal.

The company said it is not doing an "acqui-hire" and intends to have Parse keep operating and serving its existing customers. In an "acqui-hire" the employees are kept but the company is dissolved.